Dental plate



L. J. RUD

DENTAL PLATE Fiied June 28. 1923' I 2; Men Z a);-

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

Umrso S ATES rsozsia LARS Jmvsmvnun, or HERNING, DENMARK,

DENTAL P'Larii.

Ap plication filed June 28, 1 923 Serial No. 648,320,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LABS JENSEN Ron,

I subject of the King of Denmark, residingat Herning, Denmark, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Plates, of which the following is a specification. j The present invention relates to dental I plates; and it proposes, briefly, certain hereinafter-described improvements in'the construction of devices of the character indi Icated whereby they are effectively held in place in the mouth during the ordinary movements of the jaws incidental to eating,

speaking and laughing, without any danger of producing irritation.

In dental plates as heretofore constructed, it has usually been difiicult, and in many instances impossible, particularly in the case of the upper plate, to keep them in position. This is due primarily to the fact that the suction action generally relied on to hold the plate or plates in place is more or less impaired by the small open space which is always present at the front of the plate between the gum portion of the same and the natural gum and which permits the entrance of air between said parts. On the other hand, however, such space has, hitherto at least, been necessary, since the above-men-' tioned movements of the jaws require it; its

absence causing irritation of the mucous membrane with resultant swelling and pain,

by reason of the friction which would then be exerted upon the muscles of the natural um. i

g According to my invention, these drawbacks are avoided by providing the body of" the plate, which is made of hardened rubber, with an attaching strip of soft rubber so constructed that it will always follow the movements of the natural gum and, in consequence, prevent the formation of the aforesaid open space and the entrance of air therethrough.

In the accompanying drawing: 1

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of an upper plate embodying the invention,

and Fig, 2 is a similar view of a lower plate.

Referring more particularly to said drawing, the teeth'l are fastened in the usual way to an artificial gum 2 which is made of hard rubber. In the case of the upper plate, this part 2 is shaped to lit the roof of the mouth, as well as the natural gum, whereas gum only, as will be understood.

' In both cases, however, there is secured to the hard rubber part or member 2 a strip of soft or elastic rubber .3; and this strip is the plate for the lower jaw fits the naturalfiiied, in the case of the upper plate (Fig I ginal edge, and, in the ca se of-the lower plate, to its lower face,so as to coact directly withthe front or outer surfaceof the nat-,

ural gum; the strip on the lower plate being so shaped as to also engage the inner surface of said gum. V v

The essential feature of the strip 3 is the fact that it isof gradually increasing thinto the upper face thereof'at themarness from its base or root to its edge or tip; I

due to which construction, its aforesaid edge is rendered much more flexible than its base and will not only adhere closely and tightly to the natural gum, but also will-follow all the movements of the muscles of the gums. This adhesion will effectively prevent the entrance of air between the plate and the natural gum; and since such adhesion will be maintained throughout the movements of ,thejaws, the plate will be securely held in position thereby.

The upper plate is preferably completed by an additional strip 4 of softor elastic rubber, which is located on and secured to thecinner or upper face thereof adjacent the instead of becoming loosened rear edge, and which projects at opposite ends against the inner face of the strip 3. This strip 4 will engage the roof of the mouth and thus prevent the entrance of air at the rear of the plate.

. I claim as my invention 1. A dental platecomprising a hard rubber member, to one side of which the artificial teeth are fastened, and a strip of soft rubber secured to the other side of said member and having a cross-sectional area of gradually increasing thinness from its base to its outer edge; whereby said edge is rendered extremely flexible and is enabled to adhere closely and tightly to the adjacent surface of the natural gum when the plate is in place so as to prevent the entry of air between the gum and plate, substantially as described.

V A dental plate, comprising a hard rubber member, to one side of which the artiticialv teeth are fastened, and a strip of soft rubber secured to the other side of said member and having a thin, flexible free edge which is adapted to adhere closely and tightly to the adjacent surface of the natural gum when the plate is in place; substantially as described.

3. A dental plate, comprising a hard rubber member, to one side of which the artificial teeth are fastened, embodying a central portion adapted to fit against the roof of the mouth; a narrow strip of soft rubber secured to the other side of said member at the edge thereof and having a thin, flexible free edge which is adapted to adhere closely and tightly to the adjacent surface of the natural gum when the plate is in place; and a narrow strip of soft rubber located on and secured to the upper face of the said central portion of said member adjacent the rear edge thereof so as to directly engage the roof of the mouth -2- A dental plate, comprising a hard rubher member, to one side of which the arti ficial teeth are fastened, embodying a central portion adapted to fit against the roof of the mouth; a narrow strip of soft rubber secured to the other side of said member at the edge thereof and having a gradually-increasing thinness from its base to its upper edge,

whereby said edge is rendered extremely flexible and is enabled to adhere closely and tightly to the adjacent surface of the natural gum when the plate is in place; and a nar-' 110W strip of soft rubber located on and securedto the upper face of the said central portion of said member adjacent the rear edge thereof so as to directly engage the roof of themouth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

was JENSEN B 

